NFL quarterback rooms 2026: Every team evaluated by stability, depth and upside

Quarterback play still drives everything in the NFL, but not all QB rooms are built the same. Some franchises enter 2026 with MVP-caliber stars and proven depth behind them. Others are clinging to shaky veterans, unproven rookies or outright uncertainty at the game’s most important position.

Using a scale of 1 (fabulous) to 5 (terrible), Yardbarker NFL writers broke down every QB situation — weighing star power, long-term outlook, durability, upside and backup depth.

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS | RATING: 2 | Starter: Dak Prescott | Backups: Joe Milton III, Sam Howell | Prescott is good enough to earn MVP votes but hasn’t been good enough to make it to an NFC Championship Game. Prescott is 2-5 in the playoffs, with seven interceptions and 14 TD passes. Until he proves he can play his best in the toughest situations, it’s hard to consider the QB room as anything more than very good.

NEW YORK GIANTS | RATING: 3 | Starter: Jaxson Dart | Backups: Jameis Winston, Brandon Allen | With second-year player Dart, the QB room has its most potential since prime Eli Manning. Of course, the keyword is potential. Dart flashed talent in his rookie year, displaying an elite vision and arm, but was unable to sustain success. Behind Dart is the charismatic Winston, whose gunslinger approach is great for the highlight reel but not for the team. 

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | RATING: 1.5 | Starter: Jalen Hurts | Backups: Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton, Cole Payton | In 2024, Hurts had a 68.7% completion percentage. In 2025, it was 64.8%. Not good. Still, Hurts is a former Super Bowl MVP who delivered elite performances in two championship appearances. Expect improvement under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | RATING: 3 | Starter: Jayden Daniels | Backups: Marcus Mariota, Athan Kaliakmanis, Sam Hartman | In 2025, Daniels regressed because of injuries after a spectacular Rookie of the Year season. Mariota played admirably in his absence, throwing for 1,695 yards in 11 games (eight starts), but it wasn’t enough to build on Washington’s run to the NFC Championship Game in 2024. — Conor Killmurray

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS | RATING: 5 | Starter: Not determined | Options: Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew II | Backups: Carson Beck, Kedon Slovis | Brissett enters the final year of a two-year deal but is absent from voluntary activities as he looks for a raise. Minshew signed a one-year deal in the offseason and has 47 starts, but he's a backup, not a starter. Depth isn't good behind them.

LOS ANGELES RAMS | RATING: 2 | Starter: Matthew Stafford | Backups: Ty Simpson, Stetson Bennett IV, Matthew Caldwell | When healthy, Stafford is one of the NFL's best QBs, and he recently signed a one-year extension after winning league MVP. The Rams drafted Simpson in the first round, a move that could pay dividends. But the Rams won't play him much this season —- especially if Stafford remains at the top of his game.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS  | RATING: 1 | Starter: Brock Purdy | Backups: Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke, Adrian Martinez | Purdy only appeared in nine games last season because of a lingering turf toe injury. In stepped Jones, who completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards and 13 TDs. The 49ers are one of the few teams that can turn to their backup QB with confidence.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS  | RATING: 2 | Starter: Sam Darnold | Backups: Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe | Statistically, 2025 may not have been the best of Darnold’s career, but he made a lot of strides in a Super Bowl-winning campaign. He completed a career-high 67.7% of his passes and did not throw an interception during the postseason run, a major improvement for a QB with a history of turnovers. Lock has 28 career starts and is an experienced backup, making this one of the more complete QB rooms. — Colby Colwell

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS | RATING: 1 | Starter: Caleb Williams | Backups: Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum, Miller Moss | The Bears should be thrilled about their situation after Williams threw for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns and nearly led his team to the NFC title in 2025. Williams is trending toward becoming a top-five QB. Bagent is a trustworthy backup, and Keenum started in an NFC title game. This is one of the best QB rooms. 

DETROIT LIONS | RATING: 3 | Starter: Jared Goff | Backups: Teddy Bridgewater, Luke Altmeyer | Goff is a perfectly fine starter with tons of experience, but he doesn’t have a huge upside because of a lack of athleticism and issues playing through pressure. Behind Goff, Bridgewater has thrown only 15 passes in the NFL since 2022, and Altmeyer is an untested rookie. Detroit might not be able to reach its full potential with Goff, and the depth behind him is shaky at best. 

GREEN BAY PACKERS | RATING: 2 | Starter: Jordan Love | Backups: Tyrod Taylor, Kyle McCord, Kyron Drones | Love, who has thrown for 80 touchdowns and just 28 interceptions since becoming starter in 2023, is one of the best as long as he can stay healthy. Injuries have been an issue for Love, though, which is why it was important the Packers added Taylor after Malik Willis signed with the Dolphins in free agency. 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | RATING: 4 | Starter: Kyler Murray | Backups: J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, Max Brosmer | Murray is an upgrade over what the Vikings trotted out at QB last season, but his inconsistency has always held him back. This QB room has an odd dynamic now that McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in 2024, is the backup heading into the offseason. Minnesota wants to give him another chance, but that’s more complicated with Murray in town. — Jack Dougherty

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS | RATING: 5 | Starter: Not determined | Options: Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa | Backups: Trevor Siemian, Jack Strand | In 2024, the Falcons selected Penix Jr. No. 8 overall, but he’ll enter the summer in a battle with fellow lefty Tagovailoa after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 11 last season. Tagovailoa was a shell of himself in 2025, throwing a career-high 15 interceptions for the Dolphins. The team released him. Many teams prioritize QBs with mobility; it’s alarming the Falcons have two statues in their QB room. 

CAROLINA PANTHERS | RATING: 3.5 | Starter: Bryce Young | Backups: Kenny Pickett, Will Grier, Haynes King | Young and the Panthers stumbled into an NFC South title last season. Young didn’t back down in a hard-fought 34-31 wild-card home loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but he was hardly exceptional, finishing 21-of-40 for 264 yards passing, two total touchdowns and an interception. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has had some promising moments over his first three seasons, but not enough to convince Carolina to give him a lucrative second contract.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | RATING: 3 | Starter: Tyler Shough | Backups: Spencer Rattler, Zach Wilson | We’ll get a more accurate gauge of Shough this season after New Orleans invested in improving his supporting cast. He passed the eye test in nine 2026 starts, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,384 yards (7.3 yards per attempt), 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. He rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns. But one decent second-half stretch isn’t enough to anoint Shough a franchise savior. 

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | RATING: 2.5 | Starter: Baker Mayfield | Backups: Jake Browning, Connor Bazelak, Jalon Daniels | An MVP contender through the first quarter of 2025, Mayfield had his 2025 season sidetracked by injuries. He is entering the final year of a three-year, $100M extension. Even if Tampa works out another deal to keep the 2017 No. 1 overall pick with the franchise beyond 2026, he must prove he’s healthy enough to lead the Bucs back to the top of the division. — Eric Smithling

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS  | RATING: 1 | Starter: Josh Allen | Backups: Kyle Allen, Shane Buechele | Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, has missed only four of 152 games (regular season plus playoffs). So his backups can kick back and relax. Allen completed 69.3% of his passes last season for 3,668 yards. The team has reliable but not exciting depth. 

MIAMI DOLPHINS | RATING: 4 | Starter: Malik Willis | Backups: Quinn Ewers, Cam Miller, Mark Gronowski | The Dolphins have an unproven QB room with a lack of experience. After releasing Tua Tagovailoa, the team turns to free-agent addition Willis, a former Packer. Willis played well in Green Bay, but it’s rare for a backup to become the guy for another team. He has just developmental QBs behind him.  

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | RATING: 2 | Starter: Drake Maye | Backups: Tommy DeVito, Behren Morton | Starter Maye was among the top QBs in the NFL in 2025 (31 TD passes, eight interceptions). There is not much behind him, so if Maye misses time, the Patriots are in trouble. Commercial star Tommy DeVito knows the system but is not a high-tier backup.  

NEW YORK JETS | RATING: 5 | Starter: Geno Smith | Backups: Brady Cook, Cade Klubnik, Bailey Zappe | Smith returns to New York, where he flopped with the Jets from 2013-2016, as the bridge QB after a down year with Las Vegas. At 36, he offers limited upside and declining mobility. His backup options are fourth-round developmental pick Cade Klubnik, inconsistent UDFA Cook and Zappe. Yikes. — Colton Edwards

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | RATING: 3 | Starter: Bo Nix | Backups: Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger | Like fellow 2024 draftees Williams and Maye, Nix is a budding star after tying for third in the NFL in regular-season wins (24) and ranking seventh in TD passes (54) over the past two seasons (via StatMuse). He’d better stay healthy after suffering a fractured right ankle in a 33-30 AFC divisional-round win over the Bills last season or Denver is doomed. Stidham has a 1-3 record as starter; Ehlinger is 0-3.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | RATING: 2 | Starter: Patrick Mahomes | Backups: Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun | The Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014 last season, but three-time Super Bowl champion Mahomes remains a future Hall of Famer. Signs are pointing toward Mahomes being ready for Week 1 after suffering an ACL tear in his left knee in December 2025, but if he isn’t ready to go, Fields could be serviceable. The QB — who has 52 TD passes and 32 interceptions in five seasons — doesn’t struggle with turnovers and is a capable runner (2,892 career rushing yards).

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | RATING: 4 | Starter: Kirk Cousins | Backups: Fernando Mendoza, Aidan O’Connell, Jacob Clark | Four-time Pro Bowler Cousins — who posted a subpar 47.6 QBR in 10 games for the Falcons last season — is past his prime, but 2026 No. 1 overall pick Mendoza offers hope for Raiders fans. He led the Indiana Hoosiers to their first national title last season and won the Heisman after throwing 41 TD passes. Vegas rookie HC Klint Kubiak said, “[Mendoza has] not disappointed” in OTAs.   

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | RATING: 3 | Starter: Justin Herbert | Backups: Trey Lance, DJ Uiagalelei | Herbert — 0-3 in the playoffs — must deliver in big games but is clearly a franchise QB after throwing the fourth-most TD passes (163) in franchise history in his first six seasons. Perhaps he’ll “own the position” under new OC Mike McDaniel. Lance, a former 49ers/Cowboys flop, remains an unreliable backup after posting a lousy 20 QBR in four games last season. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | RATING: 1 | Starter: Lamar Jackson | Backups: Tyler Huntley, Joe Fagnano, Diego Pavia | When Jackson is on his game and at his best, he is the best game-changing player in the NFL. He can beat you with his arm, legs and can score from everywhere on the field. Huntley is a solid backup who can give the Ravens solid play in a few games. 

CINCINNATI BENGALS | RATING: 1 | Starter: Joe Burrow | Backups: Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, Sean Clifford | In terms of pure passing ability, Burrow might be the NFL’s best. The only catch is he must stay healthy; he started only eight games in 2025. The good news: Flacco, 41, is one of the NFL's oldest players, but he can win with a talented receiving corps like Cincinnati's.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | RATING: 5 | Starter: Deshaun Watson | Backups: Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green | This is a nightmare. Watson has the worst contract in football, has played just 19 games over the past three seasons and is coming off two Achilles injuries. Sanders and Gabriel are late-round projects with limited upside. The QB of the future is not on this roster. 
 
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | RATING: 4 | Starter: Aaron Rodgers | Backups: Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Drew Allar | The good news is they know they can be competitive with Rodgers. The bad news is they know the ceiling is the same one they have had for the past decade: make the playoffs and lose in the first round. New HC Mike McCarthy’s ability to develop Allar, one of their three third-round picks, might dictate how well his Steelers tenure goes. — Adam Gretz

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | RATING: 2.5 | Starter: C.J. Stroud | Backups: Davis Mills, Graham Mertz | Stroud has failed to live up to the expectations he set for himself after he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023; he had five interceptions last season in the playoffs. Still, Stroud has one of the NFL's best wide receivers in Nico Collins and played at a Pro Bowl level during the latter half of the 2025 regular season. Mills has 29 starts and is one of the NFL's better backups.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | RATING: 3 | Starter: Daniel Jones | Backups: Anthony Richardson Sr., Riley Leonard, Seth Henigan | Had Jones not suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14 last season, confidence in the QB situation would be a lot higher. Jones, who is expected to be fully cleared for the start of the 2026 season, was enjoying a career revival in his first year with Indianapolis before his injury. He posted an impressive 100.2 passing rating in 13 games and accounted for 24 total touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions. The Colts are trying to trade 2023 first-rounder Richardson. Good luck with that. 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | RATING: 2 | Starter: Trevor Lawrence | Backups: Nick Mullens, Carter Bradley, Joey Aguilar | Lawrence played like an MVP candidate over the latter half of the 2025 season and flirts with elite status. The 2021 No. 1 overall pick threw just one interception over the final six games of the season, an excellent sign. Mullens is a serviceable backup.

TENNESSEE TITANS | RATING: 2.5 | Starter: Cam Ward | Backups: Mitchell Trubisky, Will Levis, Hendon Hooker | Ward has plenty to prove in his second season after the additions of veteran WR Wan’Dale Robinson and rookie first-round wideout Carnell Tate. Both should aid the former Miami star’s development. Ward also has a creative new offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll. Backup QBs Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis failed as starters. — Steve DelVecchio